Cellulose-polymer composites

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed the preparation of polymer composites with porous cellulosic materials, such as wood. The process for forming such a composite involves impregnating the wood with a polymerizable complex of a monomer combination such as a complex of maleic anhydride and styrene. The polymerization is uncatalyzed - i.e., it is conducted without employing conventional means for inducing polymerization of monomers in wood, such as high-energy radiation or the thermal decomposition of a chemical free radical precursor. There is also disclosed a solid, stable complex of styrene and maleic anhydride.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,900,685

Gaylord 1 Aug. 19, 1975 [54] CELLULOSE-POLYMER COMPOSITES 3,108,902 10/1963 Galli et a1. 117/126 3,493,527 2/1970 Schueler 260/172 [75] Gaylord New 3,663,261 5 1972 Miettinen et a1. 117 59 Prov1der1ce, NJ. 3,779,797 12/1973 Makinen 117/116 [73] Assignee: Champion International Corporation, New York, NY. Primary ExaminerDouglas .1. Drummond Filed. Mar 22 1973 Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Dawson Appl No.: 343,921

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 32,736, April 28, 1970, Pat. No. 3,765,934.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1958 Sellers 117/148 X 3/1963 Bridgeford 117/47 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Kaul [57] I ABSTRACT There is disclosed the preparation of polymer composites with porous cellulosic materials, such as wood. The process for forming such a composite involves impregnating the wood with a polymerizable complex of a monomer combination such as a complex of maleic anhydride and styrene. The polymerization is uncatalyzed i.e., it is conducted without employing conventional means for inducing polymerization of monomers in wood, such as high-energy radiation or the thermal decomposition of a chemical free radical precursor. There is also disclosed a solid, stable complex of styrene and maleic anhydride.

14 Claims, N0 Drawings CELLULOSE-POLYMER COMPOSITES This is a division of application Ser. No. 32,736 filed Apr. 28, 1970 and now Pat. No. 3,765,934.

This invention relates to the preparation of polymer composites with porous cellulosic materials. More particularly, this invention relates to the impregnation of 5 wood with a particular type of self propagating poly- 5 merizable material and the subsequent polymerization 3 of this material in situ. A further aspect of this invenergy radiation on the monomer or by the thermal de- I composition of a chemical free radical precursor, such as benzoyl peroxide. The radiation induced polymerization of a combination of styrene and maleic anhydride in wood is described in German Patent There are disadvantages in the use of chemical free radical catalysts to induce in situ polymerization of vinyl monomers in wood. Wood contains phenolic compounds (lignin) which act as polymerization inhibitors. These inhibitors may consume the chemical catalysts and the polymerization may not proceed to the desired extent. Moreover, wood is a very poor thermal conductor and such catalysts require elevated temperatures for extended times in order to be effective. Such temperatures may be deleterious to the wood and may result in monomer loss due to volatilization.

The use of radiation to induce polymerization overcomes some of the disadvantages inherent in the use of a chemical free radical catalyst since no heating is required. However, the factors, such as the cost of complex irradiating equipment and problems encountered in processing the material, render it undesirable. Moreover, irradiation may itself be detrimental to the wood.

The incorporation of a performed polymer into wood does not solve the problems encountered in the in situ polymerization of a vinyl monomer in wood since this would require the use of a solvent. The use of a solvent is not desirable since the evaporation of the solvent to deposit the polymer would create voids in the wood. Moreover, the relatively high molecular weight and/or viscosity of a polymer would impede its diffusion and penetration into the capillaries and through the cell membranes of the wood.

It is an object of this invention to provide a coupled composite of a polymer and a porous cellulosic material, such as weed, by the in situ polymerization of a material which polymerizes in a rapid, exothermic and self-propagating manner and which does not require the use of radiation or a chemical free radical catalyst at elevated temperatures to induce polymerization.

lt is a further object of this invention to enhance the physical properties of wood such as its hardness, compressive strength, tensile strength, dimensional stability and resistance to penetration by liquids such as water.

It is still another object of this invention to utilize layers of wood which have been partially impregnated with a highly exothermic, polymerizable material as complex being a strong electron acceptor and another I being a strong electron donor. The product of the reactivity ratios of the monomers forming the complex is less than 0.2 and preferably is within the range 0 to 0.1. Preferably, at least one of the monomers forming the complex contains a functional group, such as a carboxyl group or an anhydride group which is reactive with hydroxyl groups on the cellulose substrate. The complex is then subjected to non-catalytic polymerization. The term non-catalytic polymerization means that high energy radiation or the thermal decomposition of a chemical free radical precursor to induce polymerization are not employed. The polymerization occurs through a charge transfer mechanism. It is a rapid, highly exothermic, self-propagating, non-inhibited reaction, thus permitting the polymerization to be propagated through the cellulosic material, such as wood, without inhibition by the lignin or other phenolic substances which would normally prevent or terminate a free radical type of polymerization reaction. Moreover,

when the polymerizable complex contains groups' which are reactive with hydroxyl groups on the cellulose substrate, such as anhydride groups, these groups in the resultant polymer react with the cellulosic hydroxyl groups to form stable, covalent ester bonds as well as hydrogen bonds.

A strong electron acceptor is one whose e value is at least 1.0; and a strong electron donor is one whose e value is less than -O.5. The e values for a large number of monomers are listed in the literature, see J. Brandrup and E. H. lmmergut, Polymer Handbook, Interscience Publishers, New York, 1964, pages ll 341 to II 362, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. I Examples of compounds which are electron donors include styrene, ethylene, vinyl esters (e.g., vinyl acetate) and vinyl ethers (e. g., vinyl isobutyl ether). Electron acceptors include maleic anhydride, diesters of maleic acid (e.g., di-n-buty maleate), acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate. Not all of these monomers are strong electron acceptors or donors and, therefore, may not be used as the sole electron acceptor or donor in the polymerizable complex. As will be more fully discussed hereinafter, another electron donor or acceptor may be used in combination with the strong electron donor or acceptor to modify the properties of the complex.

It is knovm that the tendency toward alternation of monomer units in a polymer is described by the product of the reactivity ratios of the monomers. if the product is 1.0, the monomer units will be incorporated into the copolymer in a purely random manner, influenced by the concentration of each monomer in the system. If the product of the reactivity ratios is less than 1.0, the units of each monomer will tend more to alternating in the polymer, the smaller the product the greater the tendency to alternation. The reactivity ratios of a large number of monomer pairs have been determined and are set forth in the literature, see Polymer Handbook, pages 11-142 to 11-335, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The term impregnating as used herein is intended to include partial as well as complete impregnation. Thus, the term includes instances wherein all or substantially all of the voids in the porous cellulosic material are filled with the polymerizable complex; as well as a surface coating of the cellulosic material with the polymerizable complex in which the polymerizable material fills only a portion of the voids in the cellulosic material.

The preferred polymerizable complex is one which is formed from equimolar amounts of styrene and maleic anhydride. The polymer which is formed in situ in the cellulosic material using such a complex is composed of alternating styrene and maleic anhydride moieties. A cross-linked structure may be obtained by replacing a portion of the styrene with divinylbenzene. Other complexes which may be used include maleic anhydrideconjugated diene (e.g., 1,1-disubstituted butadienes such as 4-methyl-l ,3-pentadiene), styrene-vinylidene cyanide, and styrene-methyl a-cyanoacrylate.

The polymerization reaction of the styrene-maleic anhydride complex is so highly exothermic that temperatures occasionally are generated in the wood sufficiently high to scorch the internal wood surfaces. The peak temperature obtained during the polymerization may be decreased by modifying the basic equimolar styrene-maleic anhydride complex with other complex forming materials which may not themselves be capable of spontaneous polymerization. Thus, up to about mole percent of the maleic anhydride may be replaced with another electron acceptor such as di-nbutyl maleate and up to about mole percent of the styrene may be replaced with another electron donor such as a vinyl ether (e.g., vinyl isobutyl ether) or a vinyl ester (e.g., vinyl acetate or vinyl butyrate). Such modified compositions reduce the maximum temperature encountered during the polymerization from above 250C. to below 200C., and in some cases to below 150C. The peak temperature may also be decreased by increasing the amount of styrene used to form the complex, e.g., by using 9 moles of styrene per mole of maleic anhydride. The complex which is formed is still equimolar and the other 8 moles of styrene merely act as a diluent insofar as the complex polymerization is concerned. However, the excess styrene undergoes polymerization under the influence of the heat caused by the exothermic reaction. Another means for decreasing the peak temperature is by using a multistage cure, e.g., C. followed by 120C. or 60C. followed by 125C. It is preferred to use the polymerizable complex by itself although a solvent may be employed. Any solvent which is used must be nonreactive with the maleic anhydridei.e., it should not contain hydroxyl, amino, or sulfhydryl groups.

Charring may also be controlled by the impregnation of very thin pieces of wood.

It has been unexpectedly found that while maleic anhydride does not dissolve in styrene until the mixture is heated to 60C., after the solution has been formed the mixture may be cooled and it will remain one phase-i.e., the maleic anhydride will not separate from the styrene. Moreover, upon cooling to below about 35C, the homogeneous composition solidifies. Upon being heated to above 35C. the composition again becomes liquid. Reliquidification may be accomplished even after several days ofstorage. This unique property of the styrene-maleic anhydride complex facilitates handling the composition since it provides a method for extending the pot life of the polymerizable complex. It is preferred to incorporate an inhibitor into the composition, such as t-butyl-catechol or other phenolic material in order to maintain a longer room temperature pot life of thepolymerizable complex and to permit sufficient time to impregnate the wood before premature polymerization of the liquid polymerizable complex. The function of the inhibitor is to inactivate potential polymerization initiators such as peroxides or oxygen. While the polymerization of the complex cannot be inhibited once polymerization is started, the presence of an inhibitor helps to prevent polymerization from being initiated.

Various types of wood may be treated in accordance with the practice of this invention. For instance, white pinewood, redwood and Douglas fir plywood may be impregnated and cured with the polymerizable complex. Preferably the wood should contain no more than about 5 molar percent of moisture.

impregnation of the wood with the polymerizable complex may be facilitated by first subjecting the wood to a vacuum while it is immersed in the polymerizable complex in order to remove air from the voids in the wood. The subsequent application of pressure forces the complex into the voids. The polymerization may be initiated by the application of heat, e.g., by exposing the impregnated material to a temperature of from C. to C. by the use of a heat lamp, press or oven. Once initiated, it is highly exothermic and selfpropagating and does not require the continued application of heat. The polymerization may be carried out in the absence of a catalyst. However, a free radical generator, such as a peroxidic compound, may be used at low concentrations to reduce the induction period which may result from the incorporation of an inhibitor in the composition. In most cases, less than 0.5% of free radical generator by weight of the monomers is sufficient to overcome the effect of the inhibitor.

It is frequently desirable in accordance with the practice of this invention to restrict the impregnation of the polymerizable complex to the surface of the wood, permitting only a moderate penetration of the complex. The complex is then polymerized in situ resulting in a polymer-wood composite having increased density and hardness and decreased water absorptivity.

impregnation restricted to the surface of the wood may be accomplished by multistep coating (i.e., coating the surface with the polymerizable complex followed by curing to establish a subsurface polymer layer, and then coating and curing again); or by modifying the polymerizable complex to increase its viscosity and thereby decrease its absorption rate and penetration' into the wood.

An increase in viscosity may be accomplished by adding to the polymerizable complex a low molecular weight polymer, e.g., one having a molecular weight of from about 500 to l0,000,-which is soluble in the complex. Preferably, the polymer is composed of the same monomeric units as is the complex-i.e., if the complex is styrene-maleic anhydride, the polymer is preferably a copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride. From about 1 to 50% by weight of polymer may be added to the complex to achieve an increase in viscosity, depending upon the molecular weight of the polymer.

or cedar wood shingles so impregnated may be used to prepare laminates containing 2 to 5 or more plies by superimposing the sheets on ,one another and curing them in a press at about 100 to 125C. under moderate pressure. The polymerizable complex thus acts as a reactive adhesive in the preparation of plywood. The practice of this invention may also be used with wood chips, saw dust and other forms of particulate cellulosic materials such as in the preparation of reconstituted wood products, e.g., composition board. The polymerizable complex then serves as both an impregnant and a binder for the particulate material. The polymerizable complex may also be admixed with wood fibers or wood pulp to prepare a paste which may be used as an adhesive layer for bonding pieces of wood.

By the practice of this invention, a wood-polymer composite may be prepared in which the original weight of the wood is increased by from to 150% due to the incorporation therein of the polymer. Such a composite may be regarded as a plastic reinforced with the naturally oriented strands of the wood, the capillaries and interstices of the wood being filled with polymer. Thus, the wood is the continuous phase and the polymer is present as an ordered dispersion in intimate contact with the structure of the wood. Moreover, when the complex from which the polymer is formed contains a carboxyl group or an anhydride group which is reactive with hydroxyl groups on the cellulose substrate, chemical bonds are formed between the polymer and the wood, thus increasing the homogeneity of the system.

The polymer-wood composites of this invention are dimensionally stable, water repellant, resistant to so]- vents and have improved mechanical properties, as compared to untreated wood, such as hardness, toughness, impact strength, tensile strength, flexural strength and compression strength.

The following examples illustrate the best modes contemplated for carrying out this invention. Unless otherwise stated, the styrene used in these examples contains about ppm of t-butyl pyrocatechol inhibitor.

EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE '2 a The process of Example 1, is repeated usinguninhib ited styrene and adding 0.04 g. of t-butyl catechol. On cooling to 25C., a stable solid mass is obtained which remains stable for several days. The mass has a melting point of 35C. Upon the addition of 0.4 g. of benzoyl peroxide, the solution remains stable at 50C for 6 hours.

EXAMPLE 3 Maleic anhydride (98 g.; 1 mole), styrene containing no inhibitor (104 g.; 1 mole) and t-butyl catechol (0.4 g.) are heated together at C. until a clear solution is obtained. The resultant polymerizable complex is cooled to 35C. and benzoyl peroxide (0.4 g.) is added.

Pieces of pinewood which have been dried at 105C. to constant weight are immersed in the polymerizable complex and the immersed wood is subjected to a vacuum which is gradually increased to about 8 to 10 mm. of Hg for about 15 minutes. While the wood is still immersed in the polymerizable complex, it is transferred to an autoclave heated to a temperature of 50C. The autoclave is then flushed with nitrogen and pressurized with nitrogen to about 1,000 to 1,200 psi. This pressure is maintained for about 15 minutes and then slowly released. The impregnated wood pieces are removed from the polymerizable complex, dried with a paper towel and weighed. The wood is then cured by placing the pieces in contact with plates heated to a temperature of 100C. Polymerization starts from the heated surface and propagates to the interior of the wood. The apparent density of the wood increases from an initial value of 0.5 g./cc to 1.0 g./cc. The Shore D hardness of the treated wood is 63-84. The wood increases in weight by 100%.

In the following examples, the weight increase, the density of the wood both before and after impregnation and curing and the hardness of the final product are set forth in Table 1.

EXAMPLE 4 Pinewood is impregnated as described in Example 3 with the composition of that Example. The impregnated wood is wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in an oven at 70C. to cure the polymerizable complex.

EXAMPLE 5 Example 4 is repeated except that 0.1 mole of the maleic anhydride is replaced with 0.1 mole (23.3 g.) of di-n-butyl maleate and the benzoyl peroxide is omitted. The impregnated wood is cured in an oven at 80C. The polymerization reaction starts after an induction period of about 40 minutes. The temperature in the wood reaches a maximum of 190C.

EXAMPLE 6 A polymerizable complex is prepared comprising uninhibited styrene (104.0 g. 1 mole), maleic anhydride (88.0 g.; 0.9 mole), di-n-butyl maleate (23.2 g.; 0.1 mole) and t-butyl catechol (0.1 g.). Fir plywood, three quarter inch in thickness containing five layers is placed in the complex so that only about the bottom layer is immersed. Impregnation is carried out applying vacuum but no pressure. The plywood is then heated in an oven at C. The whole piece is impregnated through with an effectiveness of about 75%.

EXAMPLE 7 A polymerizable complex is prepared by heating to about 70C. uninhibited styrene (93.6 g.; 0.9 mole), vinyl isobutyl ether (10.0 g.; 0.1 mole), maleic anhydride (98.0 g.; 1 mole) and hydroquinone (0.01 g.). The complex is cooled to about 40C. and t-butyl perbenzoate (0.05 g.) is added. Pinewood is impregnated with the complex as described in Example 3 and the wood is cured in an oven at 80C.

EXAMPLE 8 A composition is prepared by adding uninhibited styrene (93.6 g.; 0.9 mole), vinyl acetate (8.6 g.; 0.1 mole) and hydroquinone (0.01 g.) to molten maleic anhydride (98.0 g.; 1 mole). Pinewood is impregnated with the complex as described in Example 3 and polymerization is initiated by heating the wood in an oven for 70 minutes at 60C. A maximum temperature of 202C. is reached after 2.5 hours. The copolymer with which the wood is impregnated is soluble in acetone and methyl ethyl ketone. Therefore, the treated wood may be surface polished by rubbing with these solvents.

EXAMPLE 9 A polymerizable complex is prepared by heating uninhibited styrene (83.2 g.-, 0,8 mole), vinyl acetate (17.2 g.; 0.2 mole), and maleic anhydride (98.0 g.; 1 mole). Pinewood is impregnated with the complex as described in Example 3 and polymerization is initiated by heating the impregnated wood in an oven at 70C. for about minutes. The treated wood is much more resistant to water absorption than is untreated wood.

EXAMPLE 10 The polymerizable complex described in Example 9 is used to impregnate pinewood. The wood is kept at 25C. for 48 hours and then is heated in an oven at 50C. for 5 hours and finally at 100C. for 2 hours. The peak temperature reached in the wood is 120C. This example illustrates that by a multi-stage curing process, the wood may be cured at a maximum peak internal temperature of 120C.

This example illustrates the use of an excess of styrene to reduce the peak temperature reached during polymerization. Styrene (93.6 g.; 0.9 mole), maleic anhydride (9.8 g.; 0.1 mole) and benzoyl peroxide are mixed and used to impregnate pinewood as described in Example 3. The impregnant composition thus contains mole of styrene-maleic anhydride complex and 80 mole of excess styrene. The wood is cured in an oven in 2 stages. During the first stage, the oven is heated at 60C. and the peak temperature inside the wood is 90C. During the second stage, the oven is heated at 128C. and the maximum temperature reached in the wood is 155C.

, EXAMPLE 12 This example shows the preparation of a composition board from sawdust. Predried pine sawdust is mixed with 50% of its weight of the polymerizable complex described in Example 9. The mixture is pressed in a 4; inch deep mold at 120C. for 30 minutes under a ram pressure of 10,000 psi. Much of the polymerizable complex is squeezed out. The board is then post-cured in an oven at 120C. for 1 hour. The molding has a smooth surface, an apparent density of 105 g./cc. and a Shore D hardness of 84-90.

The following examples illustrate restricting the impregnation of the polymerizable complex to the surface of the wood.

EXAMPLE 1 3 Styrene (10.4 g.), maleic anhydride (9.8 g.), a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer having a molecular weight of 800 and an acid number of 475 (5.0 g.) and benzoyl peroxide (0.1 g.) are heated together at 80C. Two pieces of veneer, each piece being 0.5 mm in thickness, are painted on one side with the resultant composition and cured in an oven at to C. The surfaces are coated a second time with the same composition and the two pieces are joined with the coated sides together, wrapped in aluminum foil and pressed at C. for 10 minutes at 950 psi pressure. A good laminate is obtained which absorbs only about onethird as much water as an untreated control. The treated sample does not delaminate in water.

EXAMPLE 14 The process of Example 13 is repeated substituting 2.0 g. of copolymer for the 5.0 g. used in that example. A pinewood laminate is prepared as described in Example 13 by pressing at 100C. for 10 minutes at a pressure of 1,000 psi. The laminate has a good water resistant bond.

EXAMPLE 1 5 A composition is prepared as described in Example 14 except omitting the benzoyl peroxide. A four-ply laminate of veneer-pine-pine-veneer is prepared by coating each ply with the composition and pressing at 125C for 15 minutes at 1,000 psi. The veneer outer layers are glossy indicating complete impregnation while the inner pine layers are not completely impregnated. Bonding is good.

EXAMPLE 1 6 Styrene (10.4 g.), maleic anhydride (9.8 g.) and the copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride identified in Example 13 (1.0 g.) are heated at 60 to 70C. for 20 minutes until the mixture becomes slightly gelatinous. Monomethyl ether of hydroquinone (0.02 g.) is immediately added and the mixture is cooled. On standing over night, the solution becomes a gelatinous, crystalline aggregate. On heating to 60C., the mixture reliquifies to form a slightly ropy liquid. The composition is brushed on one side of an 8 X 8 cm cedar wood shingle, which is 6 mm in thickness, the impregnated shingle is wrapped in aluminum foil and heated in a press at C. for 10 minutes at 410 psi pressure. Cedar wood shingles coated with this composition are also cured under a heat lamp at 70 to 80C. for 10 minutes. Further samples are cured in an oven at 80C. for 20 minutes.

A laminate is prepared from the above composition by heating the composition after 24 hours standing to 45C. to liquify it. The composition is brushed on one side of each of pieces of pine veneer. The pieces are then joined with the coated sides together, wrapped in aluminum foil and pressed at 120C. for 20 minutes at 800 psi pressure. The thickness of the pieces in the laminate are, respectively, 0.5 mm veneer, 3 mm pine, l 1 mm pine, 3 mm pine and 5 mm veneer. A glossy laminate is obtained.

EXAMPLE l7 Styrene (31.2 g.), maleic anhydride (29.4 g.) and the styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer described in Example 13 (3.0 g.) are heated at 60 to 65C. for 25 minutes and then monomethyl ether of hydroquinone (0.05 g.) is added. The liquid is then heated to 100C. and, when cooled in cold water, exhibits a satisfactory viscosity. A 5-ply veneer pinewood laminate is prepared with this composition as described in Example 16 and the laminate is pressed at 125C. for minutes at 210 psi.

Two pieces of cedar wood shingle (7.9 X 7.9 X 0.85 cm) are dried in an oven at 80C for 1 day and then in a desiccator over CaCl for 3 days. One piece is used as a blank in a rain simulator test. The other piece is painted on one side and on the edges with the above composition which is 5 days old. The coverage is 0.0243 g. cm (excluding the edges in the calculation.) The coated shingle is cured under a heat lamp at 70 to 80C. for 25 minutes. Both the treated and untreated shingles are subjected to a rain simulation test. In this test the shingles are exposed to air and conditioned under ambient conditions for 24 hours. The samples are then exposed to dripping distilled water at a rate of 50 drops per minute. The samples are weighed after 1 and 2 hours exposure and again after one hour of air drying. The percent of weight increase is then determined. The respective values for the treated wood are 4.6%, 5.7% and 2.6% while the respective values for the untreated wood are 15.0%, 17.0% and 5.5%. Thus, this test shows that wood treated in accordancewith this invention absorbs only about one-third as much water as does untreated wood.

EXAMPLE l8 Styrene 10.4 g.), maleic anhydride (9.8 g.) benzoyl peroxide (0.1 g.) and calcium silicate (4.0 g) are mixed to give a smooth paste. A laminate is prepared by coating one side each of two pieces of oven .dried veneer. The painted pieces are joined with the coated sides together, the composite is wrapped in aluminum foil and pressed at 100C. for 10 minutes at 1 100 psi. A good laminate is obtained.

EXAMPLE 19 Maleic anhydride (9.8. g.; 0.1 mole) is dissolved in styrene (8.3 g.; 0.08 mole) containing no inhibitor at 60C. Vinyl acetate (1.7 g.; 0.02 mole) is then added. The mixture gelatinizes partially at room temperature in 10 minutes. The partially gelatinized mixture is used to paint a cedar wood shingle which is then cured in an oven at 90100C. for 30 minutes.

EXAMPLE 20 Polymer wood fiber composites are prepared by blending equal weights of wood fiber and monomer( s) along with 0.1% by weight of benzoyl peroxide based on the weight of the monomer(s). The composition is placed in a mold and subjected to pressing in a press at 120C. for 30 minutes at 1 100 psi. Several samples are prepared in this manner using different monomers. The monomers used are: styrene, a complex of equimolar amounts of styrene and maleic anhydride, and a complex of styrene, divinylbenzene and maleic anhydride. Three of the samples contain divinylbenzene in which 5, l0 and 20 mole respectively, of the styrene is replaced with the divinylbenzene. The resultant polymerwood fiber composites contain polystyrene, styrenemaleic anhydride copolymer and styrene-divinylbenzene-maleic anhydride copolymer. The hardness of the composites increases in that order. The polystyrenewood composite has little strength and readily crumbles. The styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer composite contains 13.3% copolymer which cannot be ex tracted with methyl ethyl ketone. This is an indication of the interaction which occurs between the copolymer and the wood. The cross-linked styrene-divinylbenzene-maleic anhydride copolymer-wood fiber composite contains 75.4% non-extractible copolymer. The composite containing the cross-linked styrene-divinylbenzene-maleic anhydride copolymer has better mechanical properties, i.e. flexural modulus and strength,

. tensile modulus, and tensile work energy than does the composite containing the styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer.

EXAMPLE 21 A dry mixture comprising 7.4% by weight of wood fiber and 92.6% by weight of an equimolar mixture of styrene and maleic anhydride containing 0.1% by weight of benzoyl peroxide is placed between two overlapped wood pieces. The lapped area is pressed at C. under 1000 psi pressure for thirty minutes. A goodadhesive bond is obtained.

Other coupled wood polymer composites may be prepared employing the procedures set forth in the preceding examples and in the more general description of this invention set forth hereinabove.

What is claimed is:

l. A process for the preparation of a laminate which comprises impregnating at least two sheets of porous, cellulosic material with a polymerizable equimolar complex of styrene and maleic anhydride, superimposing said sheets on one another and thereafter subjecting said complex in situ to non-catalytic polymerization, the anhydride groups in the resultant polymer reacting with cellulosic hydroxyl groups whereby bonds are formed between the polymer and said cellulosic material.

2. A laminate obtained by the process of claim 1.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said porous, cellulosic material is wood.

4. A laminate obtained by the process of claim 3.

5. The process of claim 3 wherein up to 20 mole percent of the styrene is replaced with divinylbenzene.

6. The process of claim 3 wherein up to 10 mole percent of said maleic anhydride is replaced with di-nbutyl maleate.

7. The process of claim 3 wherein up to mole percent of said styrene is replaced with vinyl isobutyl ether or vinyl acetate.

8. The process of claim 3 wherein said complex is used in conjunction with an excess amount of styrene.

9. The process of claim 3 wherein said complex contains a polymerization inhibitor. 3

10. The process of claim 3 wherein said polymerization is conducted by exposing said impregnated wood to a temperature of from about 70 to 125 C.

11. The process of claim 3 wherein said polymeriza tion is conducted at more than one temperature, the first temperature being substantially lower than the final temperature.

12. The process of claim 3 wherein at least one of said sheets of wood is impregnated with said polymerizable complex only at or near the surface thereof.

.13. The process ofv claim 12 wherein said complex contains dissolved therein a low molecular weight copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein said impregnation is accomplished by coating the surfaces of said wood with said polymerizable complex, curing said complex to form subsurface polymer layers, coating the surfaces with additional polymerizable complex and again curing. 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A LAMINATE WHICH COMPRISES IMPREGNATING AT LEAST TWO SHEETS OF POROUS, CELLULOSIC MATERIAL WITH A POLYMERIZABLE EQUIMOLAR COMPLEX OF STYRENE AND MALEIC ANHYDRIDE, SUPERIMPOSING SAID SHEETS ON ONE ANOTHER AND THEREAFTER SUBJECTING SAID COMPLEX IN SITU TO NONCATALYTIC POLYMERIZATION, THE ANHYDRIDE GROUPS IN THE RESULTANT POLYMER REACTING WITH CELLULOSIC HYDROXYL GROUPS WHEREBY BONDS ARE FORMED BETWEEN THE POLYMER AND SAID CELLULOSIC MATERIAL.
 2. A laminate obtained by the process of claim
 1. 3. The process of claim 1 wherein said porous, cellulosic material is wood.
 4. A laminate obtained by the process of claim
 3. 5. The process of claim 3 wherein up to 20 mole percent of the styrene is replaced with divinylbenzene.
 6. The process of claim 3 wherein up to 10 mole percent of said maleic anhydride is replaced with di-n-butyl maleate.
 7. The process of claim 3 wherein up to 20 mole percent of said styrene is replaced with vinyl isobutyl ether or vinyl acetate.
 8. The process of claim 3 wherein said complex is used in conjunction with an excess amount of styrene.
 9. The process of claim 3 wherein said complex contains a polymerization inhibitor.
 10. The process of claim 3 wherein said polymerization is conducted by exposing said impregnated wood to a temperature of from about 70* to 125* C.
 11. The process of claim 3 wherein said polymerization is conducTed at more than one temperature, the first temperature being substantially lower than the final temperature.
 12. The process of claim 3 wherein at least one of said sheets of wood is impregnated with said polymerizable complex only at or near the surface thereof.
 13. The process of claim 12 wherein said complex contains dissolved therein a low molecular weight copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride.
 14. The process of claim 12 wherein said impregnation is accomplished by coating the surfaces of said wood with said polymerizable complex, curing said complex to form subsurface polymer layers, coating the surfaces with additional polymerizable complex and again curing. 